(Dec. 22, 2007) Pope Benedict XVI begins his Christmas season activities of this
year on Monday, Dec. 24, celebrating the midnight Mass in the St Peter's Basilica
in the Vatican. On Tuesday, Christmas Day, he will appear at the central balcony
of St Peter's basilica at noon to deliver his annual ‘Urbi et Orbi Christmas message
and blessing, including Christmas greetings in numerous languages of the world.
‘Urbi et Orbi’, the Latin for “to the city of Rome and to the world”, is delivered
twice a year by the Pope – at Easter and at Christmas. The website of the Catholic
Bishops Conference of India, CBCI, has announced that the Pope’s Christmas Vigil Mass
and his Urbi et Orbi message and blessing will be telecast live by India’s state television,
Doordarshan, DDI. The Midnight Mass can be watched at 6. 20 AM in India on Dec. 25,
and the Urbi et Orbi later during the day at 5.15 PM. On Dec. 31, the last day
of 2008, the Holy Father will preside at the first Vespers of the Solemnity of Mary
Mother of God in St Peter's basilica. This will be followed by the exposition of the
Blessed Sacrament, the singing of the traditional "Te Deum" hymn of thanksgiving for
the year's end, and the Eucharistic blessing., the Vatican's Office of Liturgical
Celebrations said. On Jan. 1, New Year's Day as well as the Catholic Church’s annual
World Day of Peace, the Pope will celebrate Mass in St Peter's Basilica in the morning.
The Pope has issued a message for this 41st World Day of Peace which has as its theme:
'The Human Family, a Community of Peace.' On Jan. 6, the Pope will once again celebrate
mass in St. Peter’s Basilica to mark Epiphany, in commemoration of the visit by the
Magi or the Wise Men from the East to Baby Jesus. The Pope will wrap up his Christmas
schedule on Jan. 13, when he will celebrate a mass in Rome's Sistine Chapel to mark
the Feast of Baptism of Christ. The Pontiff will baptize a number of infants on this
occasion.